Zerodha vs 5paisa Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of Zerodha and 5paisa: brokerage fees, account maintenance charges (AMC), IPO application speed, and trading app features.
Charges & Feature Comparison Table
| Parameter | Zerodha | 5paisa |
|---|---|---|
| Account Opening Fee | ₹200 | ₹0 (Free) |
| Annual Maintenance (AMC) | ₹300/yr | ₹0 (BSDA) / ₹25/mo |
| Equity Delivery Brokerage | ₹0 (Free) | Flat ₹20 (₹10 with packs) |
| Equity Intraday Brokerage | Flat ₹20 or 0.03% | Flat ₹20 per order |
| Futures & Options (F&O) | Flat ₹20 per order | Flat ₹20 per order |
| IPO Application Flow | Seamless UPI 2.0 block mandate via Kite & Console | Standard UPI auto-mandate bidding |
| Pre-Apply IPO Feature | Yes (during pre-market window) | Yes |
| HNI / Shareholder Bidding | Yes (High Net-Worth / Shareholder category supported) | Yes |
| Active NSE Clients | 7.5M+ active clients | 1.2M+ active clients |
Zerodha — Pros & Cons
India's pioneer discount broker with Rs 0 delivery brokerage and unmatched platform stability.
Pros:
- Zero brokerage on equity delivery (holding shares long-term)
- Kite platform has the highest uptime and cleanest interface
- Console offers the best capital gains and tax P&L reporting
Cons:
- ₹200 account opening charge
- ₹300 annual maintenance charge (AMC)
5paisa — Pros & Cons
Pioneer discount brokerage backed by IIFL Group with flat affordable pricing.
Pros:
- Backed by IIFL Finance group with decades of heritage
- Optional subscription packs lower brokerage to ₹10/trade
- Built-in robo-advisory tools
Cons:
- Charges brokerage on delivery trades
- App interface feels slightly dated compared to modern fintech apps
Final Verdict: Which Broker Should You Choose?
For Long-Term Investors & Listing Gain Sellers: If your priority is selling allotted IPO shares at zero brokerage, or building a long-term portfolio without trade commissions, Zerodha is advantageous because equity delivery is 100% free.
For Casual IPO Applicants & Beginners: If you only open a demat account to apply for IPOs occasionally and do not want fixed annual charges eating into your account, 5paisa offers lifetime zero AMC and a frictionless mobile bidding experience.
Explore Other Broker Matchups
All Broker Comparisons
Browse the complete head-to-head comparison hub.
Best Brokers Guide
Detailed review of the top 5 discount brokers in India.
Brokerage Calculator
Calculate exact STT, GST, SEBI fee, and net profit.